CHAIRMANSHIP OF COMMITTEES.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 10516, 26 July 1910, Page 1

CHAIRMANSHIP OF COMMITTEES.

-A -MIXED-POSITION. ■;By Telegraph. (From Our Own Correspondent.) ."Wellington,. July. 25. . A.' Government caucus report - last we'ek. indicated that Mr T.| B. Davey, of Christchurch East, had been selected as the 'Government candidate for the Chairmanship of Committees. Tins, under ordinary ' circumstances, means certain election, 'but Sir. Wm. Steward, 'another candidate for the ' position, has confided to an Opposition pressman "-hat- anv statement to the erfect-that h'> would not he a candidate was entirely unfounded. "I was not respon--:ib'»: for the report of the caucus, ' he continued, "and the matter can easily be cleared up There were 35 members present at the caucus, and.lß members favored Mr Davoy's candidature while 17 members expressed themselves by their vote in support of .my candidature If it had not been that a number of my supporters were absent I would have'gnined a fair majority" . ■ Sir'YVilliam added that he was out against all comers for the position, and was certain that he would be successful. • • Referring to the matter also on Saturday Mr Massev, Leader of the Opposition, said: "1 don't expect to be .successful in getting electee, to the position, though probably there is no other man .in Parliament who is •eose-essed of so many qualifications -tor the office." If.the Government, which of course has tile arranging of the Order Paner. allows me to move my motion that Mr Fraser be elected, I am prepared to go on with it in order to test the opinion of the members on the question." ' . Mr Massev added that his object 111 rroposin"- Mr Eraser was move in the nature irf a protest against the undue delay which has occurred in filling the vacancy. , The motion of which Sir Joseph \\ arci has "iven notice is "That Mr Davoy be apnointed Chairman of Committees of this House." Any amendment will have to take the shape of a motion to eliminate all the words after the opening "that" with a view of substituting aiicthcr. It could, I. understand, be thus frair-.cd and would enable the Opposition to join forces with those of the Government party who are not pledged to Mr Davev's candidature, and bring about his defeat. It is doubtful, however, if Sir YVm. Steward improved his chances bv talking of caucus happenings, so the only, thing I can say is that the matter is a very open one.